Methods of cleaning out internal combustion engine carburetors



Oct. 11, 1960 0.1-. GLENN 2,955,964

METHODS OF CLEANING OUT INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CARBURETORS Original Filed Dec. 31, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 22 A i T G T n 2, 4 4

mmvrox. Dale 6 ATTOR/VfK? D. T. GLENN Oct. 11, 12350 METHODS OF CLEANING OUT INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CARBURETORS 2 sheets-sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 31, 1953 mmvnm Dale 7. Glenn BY United States Patent O METHODS OF CLEANING OUT INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CARBURETORS Dale T. Glenn, University Heights, Ohio, assignor to Pennsylvania Refining Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application Dec. 31, 1953, Ser. No. 401,641,

now Patent No; 2,792,008, dated May 14, 1957. Digrsdseggatnd this application May 10, 1957, Ser. No.

6 Claims. (Cl. 134-23) This invention relates to methods of cleaning out carburetors for internal combustion engines, the present application being a division of my copending application, Serial No. 401,641, filed December 31, 1953, and now PatentNo. 2,792,008 entitled Devices for Cleaning Out Internal Combustion Engine Carburetors.

As is'well known, the gasoline which is used in internal combustion engines causes gums to be deposited in the carburetor passages, with resulting sluggishness, increased gasoline consumption, and impaired general engine efiiciency. Although these petroleum gums can be dissolved by certain solvent fluids the effective use of such solvent fluids has heretofore required the removal of the carburetor, with attendant cost and trouble.

The present invention therefore has for an object thereof the provision of a method of delivering to an internal combustion engine carburetor a combustible gum-dissolving solvent fluid, the delivery ofsuch solvent fluid to the carburetor being effected in a simple and convenient manner and without the necessity of removing the carburetor or of taking it apart.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a method of freeing an internal combustion engine carburetor of the petroleum gums deposited therein by the delivery to said carburetor, after it has been disconnected from the gasoline supply line, of a gum-dissolving solvent fluid and by thereafter putting the engine and the carburetor into operation for the removal of the dissolved gums. V

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a method of freeing an internal combustion engine carburetor of the petroleum gums deposited therein by the delivery to the carburetor of a gum-dissolving solvent fluid, and wherein the delivery conduit for said solvent fluid is of transparent character so that the flow of solvent therethrough can be observed and the operation of the carburetor terminated before the float chamber thereof is emptied, thereby making unnecessary the subsequent priming of the carburetor.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a carburetor. clean-out method that is characterized by its etficiency, simplicity, and economy.

Further objects of the present invention, and certain of its practical advantages, will be referred to in or will be evident from the following description of the present carburetor clean-out method and oneembodiment of a device which may be used in the performance of said method, said device being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the front end por- Patented Oct. 11, 1960 lCC 2 carburetor in use of the present method, parts being in section;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the fuel line block-01f member of the device, which may be used in the performance of the present method-a member which also serves as a carrier for the fittings of said device;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of said blockotf member and fittings carrier, the view being on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, with three of the fittings being shown in association therewith;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the solvent receptacle, and a portion of the conduit connected thereto, which may be used in the present cleanout method; and

Fig. 6 is a View of the clamp assembly by which the solvent receptacle may be suspended from the automobile hood cover.

Before the present carburetor clean-out method is specifically described, it is to be understood that the here involved invention is not limited to the use of a device having the structural details or the particular arrangement of the parts here shown, as such devices may vary. It also is to be understood that the phraseology or ter minology herein used is for purposes of description and not of limiation, as the scope of the present invention is denoted by the appended claims.

For the disclosure of one embodiment of a device useful in the performance of the present method, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the front end portion of an automobile 10, with the usual alligator type hood cover 11 for the engine compartment 12. 13 designates the carburetor for the internal combustion engine (not shown) of. the automobile, with 14 being the carburetor bowl which contains the float chamber which is supplied with gasoline by the fuel line 15, the externally threaded end 16 of which is adapted to be secured within the intake opening 17 of said carburetor bowl.

As will hereinafter more fully appear, the present device includes a container 20, a combustible solvent fluid and a conduit 21 having one of its ends connectible to said container and its other end connectible to the cartion of an automobile, with the hood cover raised and g buretor bowl '14 for the delivery to the float chamber of said bowl of solvent fluid from said container. The conduit 21 is of a transparent and flexible material, such as polyethylene, the transparency of the conduit enabling the flow of solvent fluid therethrough to'be observed and operation of the carburetor terminated before the float chamber of the carburetor is emptied of such solvent fluid. By a simple pinching operation, the conduit can be collapsed and fluid flow therethrough arrested at any time, and additionally, the flexibility of the conduit makes it simple and easy to use and store, as will be readily understood.

For the connection of said conduit to the carburetor bowl 14, the fuel line 15 is disconnected from the carburetor intake opening F17 and an end of said conduit is secured in said opening, as will hereinafter appear.

To close the fuel line end 16 after its disconnection from the carburetor bowl 14, the here illustrated device includes a block-oil member 22, which may be and here is of bar form, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Inasmuch as the carburetor connectible ends of fuel lines vary, in diametral size and/or thread formation, the present block-off member 22 is provided with a series of internally threaded sockets of varying diametral size and/or thread formation to thereby adapt said block-off member for use with substantially all fuel lines now in use. As here shown, there are four such sockets, designated 'by the reference numerals 23, 24, 25 and 26, and one of such sockets should properly receive the carburetor disconnectible end of each fuel line now in use.

To insure the effective closing of each such fuel line end upon its carburetor disconnection, each socket of the block-E member 22 is provided at its bottom with a gasket- 27 for sealing engagement with i such fuel line end, as will be readily understood. For the connection, detachably, of course, of-the solvent delivery conduitezl to the carburetor which is to be'cleaned 01 freed of its gum deposits, such'as the carbur'etorlS, one end ofsaid conduit is here provided witha tubularcOnneCtor ZS, one end portion or" which'is secured vvithin said conduit, with the securementbeing aided, if-desired andas here shown, :by forming tapered annular 29 -on :such connector portion. The other end portion o fthe con nector projects agrially outwardly from the conduit and is swivelly provided with a-couplin gsocket nut 30 which contains atthe bottom thereofa gasket 31 forsealing purposes.

The hereinbefore mentionedvariations in the diame 'tral size and/or thread formation .of th'e carburetor V the conduit connector 28, and externally threaded end side wall portion 42 threaded for detachable connection to the container neck 40, and an inturned annular bottom flange 43 for the support, and the retention against the end of the container neck 40, of a disc-like member 44. In the present device, this.disc-like member of the special cap structure has an apertured central portion 45, which maybe and'he'feTis "of increased'thickness, and'has a depending tubular portion .46, in registry with the apertureof the central portion 45, and which tubular portion servesias a con'nectortfor the connection'of the conduit 2110 the container 20. 'To aid insuch conduit connection, the depending connector portion .46 may be provided with tapered annular ribs, such as those of the connector-28 to which the other end of the conduit :21 is connected. To provide an effective seal between this special cap structure and the container neck 40, a gasket 47 is interposed between theend of such container neck and the disc-like member 44 of the cap structure, all as showninFigS. a

. For .air venting of the solventffluid container 20,Tin use of thepresent device, the lower end of .a vent tube 48 is mounted in anopening in the thickened central portion 45 of the disc-like member 44 0f the special cap SU'IJC'.

portion 36 for securement within the intake opening of the carburetor to be cleaned. The end portions 36 of the adaptors vary, in diametral size and/or thread .fonnation, and thus adapt the present clean-out device for use with carburetors having diifering intake openings. :For example, the end portion 36 of one adaptor may have a 1 inch thread; the end portion '36 of another. adaptor may have a inch threadyand the end portion 36 of the third adaptor may have a /2 inch threada thread range which adapts the present clean-out device for use with all standardcarburetors, as will be readily understood...

To enablethe adaptors 32, 33 and 34' tobereadily turned intheir connection to anddisconnection from carburetors and conduit connectors, said adaptors" are provided between their. threaded endportions 35, 36 with hexagonal orv equivalent non-circular portions 37,, and for insuring an efiective .seal between each adaptorand the carburetor to which it'is secured, agasket 38 is disposed alongside the. adaptor'portion :37, adjacent the threaded end portion 36 thereof. One featureof the here illustrated device is that the block-off member 22 not only'se-rves as a closure for the carburetor connectible end "of the. gasoline supply line duringuse of the present clean-out device but also serves as a carrier for the adaptors 32, 33 and. 34, as indicated in Fig. 4.. Even when said'block-off member is performing its fuel line 'block-ofi-function in use of thepres'ent clean-out device,- it cancarry, .if 1 desired, an but the adaptor which is then mouse, and atsothe r times, .it can carry all adaptors, As the result, the adaptors'can be kept together, with minimization of the likelihood of loss ofLany'of them. a i

.In'the present device, the solvent fluid container 20 is provided with a single opening in an end wall thereof,

with said opening being surrounded by an annular neck 40 of threadedform for:the attachment thereto of a simple cap (not shown) for closing the opening when the-present device is not'in use and when the container has solvent fluid thereinand also, for'the attachment thereto of a special cap structure during use of the presentclean-out device; 7 Asattest-shown in Fig. 5, such 'special cap structure includes a pup-shaped cap member having a cylindrical ture, at one 'side'of the depending conduit. connector portion 46 of saidmember 44. As shown in Fig.5, said vent tube mounting .open'ing,' and hence the tubeitself, is in communication with the outside, atmosphere, and the upper end'of the tube is above the level of the solvent fluid in .the container 20,.when the container is in its inverted position of use shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. Thus, an e'ifective vent is provided for'the solvent container in use of the present device.

For thesuspension of the solvent fluid container 20, and the conduit 21 connected thereto, in a position above the carburetor to be cleaned, for gravity flow of .the solvent fluid to said carburetor, the present device includes a suitable suspension structure generally designated by the reference numeral 50.. ,As best shown in Fig. 6, the suspension structure comprises two. conventional type clamps 51, each having a pair of jaws 52 for gripping engagement with the bottom rim 53 'ofthercontainer 20, at opposite sides thereof. By means of chains 54, the two clamps are connected-to the eyeof a hook 55 which is adapted to be hung on an abutment of the automobile hood 11, such as an abutment56 formed by or constituting one of the braces or supports of 'the'hood cover 11.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that-the present invention involves a clean-out method in which the can buretor to be cleaned out is operated on a gum-dissolving solvent fluid, in place of the usual gasoline fuel; in which the solvent fluid is contained in a receptacle suspended above the carburetor, such as vfromlthe automobile hood cover, so that the solventfluid can flow by gravity to the carburetor; in which the solvent fluid. is delivered to the carburetor through the same intake opening through which gasoline is ordinarilly delivered to the carburetor,

V the gasoline line, during use of the present method, being disconnected from the carburetor-audits end temporarily closed by a block-oifmember which .is so formed that it is adapted for :use with .gasoline lines of various sizes and/or thread formationsiinwhich said block-oflf member also serves as a carriepfor adaptors by which the solvent fluid conduit can be connected to. carburetors having intake openings of various sizes and/or thread formations; and in which the solvent fluid conduit is of transparent and flexible material, the transparency ofthe material of the conduit enabling .fluid flow therethrough to be observed, so that. the operation of the carburetor, and hence the clean-out oper'ation therefor, .can. beterminated before the float chamber of. the carburetor is emptied of solvent fluid. I I 1 Other features and advantagesof the present clean-out method will be evident to. those skilled iii-the ,art to which the inventionrelates.--. f l T Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of cleaning out an internal combustion engine carburetor without taking it apart or removing it from the engine, comprising the steps of completely disconnecting from the carburetor the gasoline supply line therefor, closing the disconnected gasoline supply line, delivering to the carburetor a combustible gum-dissolving solvent fluid, and operating the carburetor and the engine solely on said solvent fluid.

2. The method of cleaning out an internal combustion engine carburetor without taking it apart or removing it fi'om the engine, comprising the steps of completely disconnecting from the carburetor the gasoline supply line therefor, closing the disconnected gasoline supply line, delivering to the carburetor a combustible gum-dissolving solvent fluid, operating the carburetor and the engine solely on said solvent fluid, and terminating the operation of the carburetor before its float chamber is emptied of said solvent fluid.

3. The method of cleaning out an internal combustion engine carburetor without taking it apart or removing it from the engine, comprising the steps of completely disconnecting from the carburetor the gasoline supply line therefor, closing the disconnected gasoline supply line, delivering a combustible gum-dissolving solvent fluid to the carburetor through a conduit detachably connected thereto, and operating the carburetor and the engine sole- 1y on said solvent fluid.

4. The method of cleaning out an internal combustion engine carburetor Without taking it apart or removing it fiom the engine, comprising the steps of completely disconnecting from "the carburetor the gasoline supply line therefor, closing the disconnected gasoline supply line, delivering a combustible gum-dissolving solvent fluid to the carburetor through a flexible conduit detachably connected thereto, and operating the carburetor and the engine solely on said solvent fluid.

5. The method of cleaning out an internal combustion engine carburetor without taking it apart or removing it from the engine, comprising the steps of completely disconnecting from the carburetor the gasoline supply line therefor, closing the disconnected gasoline supply line, delivering a combustible gum-dissolving solvent fluid to the carburetor by gravity flow of said solvent fluid, and operating the carburetor and the engine solely on said solvent fluid.

6. The method of cleaning out an internal combustion engine carburetor without taking it apart or removing it from the engine, comprising the steps of completely disconnecting from the carburetor the gasoline supply line therefor, closing the disconnected gasoline supply line, delivering to the carburetor a combustible gum-dissolving solvent fluid, operating the carburetor and the engine solely on said solvent fluid, and terminating the operation of the carburetor before its float chamber is emptied of said solvent fluid, the delivery of the solvent fluid to the carburetor being through a transparent conduit which enables fluid flow therethrough to be observed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,190,459 Schnebelen Feb. 13, 1940 2,239,949 Bartz Apr. 29, 1941 2,251,988 Curran Aug. 12, 1941 2,366,073 Vallerie Dec. 26, 1944 OTHER REFERENCES Sears, Roebuck & Company Catalogue, Spring and Summer, 1955, page 955. 

1. THE METHOD OF CLEANING OUT AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CARBURETOR WITHOUT TAKING IT APART OR REMOVING IT FROM THE ENGINE, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF COMPLETELY DISCONNECTING FROM THE CARBURETOR THE GASOLINE SUPPLY ENGINE THEREFOR CLOSING THE DISCONNECTED GASOLINE SUPPLY LINE, DELIVERING TO THE CARBURETOR A COMBUSTIBLE GUM-DISSOLVING SOLVENT FLUID, AND OPERATING THE CARBURETOR AND THE ENGINE SOLELY ON SAID SOLVENT FLUID. 